OPINION 1. The Lions are playing hard at the breakdown: The Lions built the win against the Tahs by being hard at the breakdown. Under a New Zealand coach the Lions have their mobile back row playing far more like those in a Kiwi side than a European side – gone are [...]

The Argentinian Pumas fully deserve to be in this competition. For a team that has never been involved in an annual tier one rugby tournament and that has to travel half way around the world for every away game they have been extraordinarily impressive. New Zealand, Australia and South Africa are ranked 1, 2 and 3 in the world respectively and Argentina (currently ranked 8th in the world) is playing like a team that fully deserves a spot in the world’s top three.

1. The All Blacks showed why they are the number 1 team in the world with daylight second. They played superbly with speed and accuracy at the breakdown, an almost faultless kicking performance from Carter and Dagg, a brilliant offload and support game from their back row and centres, brutally effective defense across the park and a rock solid set piece. They played the kind of rugby every team aspires to play.

1. The Australians generally played a good game. Good discipline, lots of possession, good defense and a solid kicking game resulting in a close but deserved win. It was not without its slight blemishes though, namely tonight in the set piece (missed lineout throws and scrum infringements).